Inclusion of madressah students in Naya Pakistan Youth Programme 'a revolutionary step': minister

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Inclusion of madressah students in Naya Pakistan Youth Programme 'a revolutionary step': minister

Javed Hussain Published December 7, 2018

Minister for Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri (L) and prime minister's aide Usman Dar (R) discuss measures to include religious seminaries' students in youth programme. — Photo by author

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Dar on Friday met Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri to discuss measures the government plans to implement in order to bring seminary students into the mainstream.

Dar, who is Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs, said that Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted to include all young students who study in seminaries into the framework of his Naya Pakistan Youth Programme because he wanted them to have a "bright future".

Dar said that the government aims to provide interest-free loans, medical facilities, vocational training and jobs to pupils of religious seminaries so they can compete with students who have been educated in mainstream schools.

The premier's aide added that madressah students are the country's "precious assets", and that their talents should not go to waste.

Qadri lauded the initiative and said that the inclusion of madressah students in the youth programme taken by the prime minister would be a "revolutionary step".

The initiative is in line with the PTI government's goal to bring madressahs into mainstream and eradicate class-based education.

The party's manifesto promises to "map out and register all seminaries across Pakistan" and "introduce literacy and mathematics teaching as formal subjects within the Madressah curriculum".

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Talha Khalil

Dec 07, 2018 02:26pm

On one hand the economy is still and on the other hand they are discussing programmes. On one hand removing encroachments of poor people and on the other hand building shelters for poor people. Like seriously? TALKS of this government are still cool on all levels. Though results and ground realities are still discouraging.

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Mad

Dec 07, 2018 02:29pm

Good step

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iftikhar

Dec 07, 2018 02:35pm

that is huge youth must be put in a system where they contribute and make hand earned living rather than grownup on donations and contributions only its a great work force

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BhaRAT

Dec 07, 2018 02:42pm

@Talha Khalil, How’s encroachment in anyway related to building shelters? Were Shelters built in the area which have been destroyed in anti encroachment drive? If not than what you’re trying to say?

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Khurram

Dec 07, 2018 02:43pm

Minister, please be informed that on any front, be it accountancy, business or even religious education, Madarssah students are way much better than you, and certainly have a future two times brighter to yours'.

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Ali

Dec 07, 2018 02:51pm

Great Initiative. I hope its not all talk and Gov. seriously follows through on this program.

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Dec 07, 2018 03:16pm

Excellent approach. More help needed for the poor. Education, homes and jobs needs to created.

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Fastrack

Dec 07, 2018 03:41pm

Got to love this man.

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Arif Godil

Dec 07, 2018 04:11pm

Steps in the right direction. It will take time to implement.

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salam

Dec 07, 2018 04:16pm

Good initiative

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Amjad Durrani Engineer USA

Dec 07, 2018 04:39pm

There are 40,000 madrassas in the country enrolling 1.9 million students. Only 30% of these madrasas are registered. While 90 - 96% curriculum includes teachings of Islamic subjects and Hadith related to Deobandi school of thought remaining follow teaching of Shia sect, to mostly children from poor families who resides there. These intentions though good but lacking a roadmap/resources & without taking the mgt. of these schools into confidence, is merely talk. With 25 million children presently out of school due non availability of resources, 87 million population of mostly youth being illiterate and lacking vocational training, venturing into an unknown territory without preparatory work and resources is tantamount to creating another issue of unfathomable magnitude. As a matter of fact, this experiment spearheaded by those who have neither talent or experience in educational planning & management and that too without any resources is bound to fail like similar attempts of the past

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Shahzad

Dec 07, 2018 04:49pm

@Khurram, what is the exact major of a madrassa graduate. What type of business, accounting, management etc skills are imparted in a madrassa.

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Shaibaaz

Dec 07, 2018 07:47pm

Apart from these few other benefits that can be afforded by the Govt. to the Public are 1) Free transportation for all citizens through road and rail services on the Independence day. 2) Streamlining the Education System and Skill building training programs for Youth. 3) Self Employment to be encouraged among the Youth so that unemployment rate could be curbed. These can be implemented by the Govt.

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Maboob Saleem

Dec 07, 2018 07:50pm

I like it. It is a good gesture.

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Noonari THUL

Dec 07, 2018 09:21pm

It is a golden opportunity for young generation.

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Zak

Dec 08, 2018 01:08pm

Good move to include all segments of society. Up the level for schools but dont destroy the already good ones.

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